Post by admin on Apr 19, 2007 5:21:40 GMT -5
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070418/NEWS01/704180390/1004/NEWS01
Freehold voters OK school budget, ballot question
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/18/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD — Extracurricular sports and activities have been saved.
In addition to approving a tax levy of $7,429,529, voters in the K-8 Freehold School District on Tuesday said "yes" to a second ballot question that asked taxpayers for an additional $75,275 to be used for items including school-sponsored athletics and extracurricular activities.
The vote on the tax levy was 357-299 in favor and for the second question, 342-314 in favor.
By a 6-3 vote, Board of Education members on March 26 reluctantly adopted a 2007-08 school year budget of $16.67 million that cut 12 positions and eliminated extracurricular activities.
The money in the second question will be used exclusively for soccer, basketball, track, baseball, softball, art, band, chorus, dance, drama, student council, yearbook and musical production. It also will be used for wages, stipends and a residency officer on an as-needed basis and will result in a permanent increase in the district's tax levy.
The tax rate will increase 7.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, to 74.1 cents. On an average home assessed at $257,714, the homeowner will pay $191 more in school taxes annually.
Board President James Keelan said that while the activities are saved, $1.1 million is still needed to bring the district up to "thorough and efficient" levels.
"We still have more work to do, and we will continue to fight until our children receive their right to a thorough and efficient education," Keelan said. "This is one small victory. The fight still continues."
He also said he is happy for the children of the borough and thankful to the voters.
Keelan said he is not sure if the 12 positions will be saved and that Business Administrator Veronica Wolf would be able to comment on that. Wolf could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night.
At the polling place inside the Freehold firehouse at 49 W. Main St., some Freehold voters shared their views on the budget and education situation. The district, while it received a boost in state aid this year, has received flat aid from the state for five years and has seen a decrease in federal aid this year.
Edward Kress, 66, blamed the overcrowding on the illegal immigrants in the borough, but voted in favor of the ballot questions.
"There's no alternative. We have to support our children," Kress said.
Tom Scanlon, 18, held a similar view, but voted against the questions.
"If everyone paid taxes the way they're supposed to, there wouldn't be any money problems at all," Scanlon said.
Raymond Flint, 71, voted to approve the questions.
"I know the children need what I'm voting for," Flint said.
Resident Pat Eaton said she voted "no" on the questions, citing what she sees as an untapped resource for revenue.
"If the county paid taxes toward the borough, then the schools would have enough funding," Eaton said.
Freehold, which is the Monmouth county seat, has property that is exempt from local taxes.
Freehold voters OK school budget, ballot question
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/18/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD — Extracurricular sports and activities have been saved.
In addition to approving a tax levy of $7,429,529, voters in the K-8 Freehold School District on Tuesday said "yes" to a second ballot question that asked taxpayers for an additional $75,275 to be used for items including school-sponsored athletics and extracurricular activities.
The vote on the tax levy was 357-299 in favor and for the second question, 342-314 in favor.
By a 6-3 vote, Board of Education members on March 26 reluctantly adopted a 2007-08 school year budget of $16.67 million that cut 12 positions and eliminated extracurricular activities.
The money in the second question will be used exclusively for soccer, basketball, track, baseball, softball, art, band, chorus, dance, drama, student council, yearbook and musical production. It also will be used for wages, stipends and a residency officer on an as-needed basis and will result in a permanent increase in the district's tax levy.
The tax rate will increase 7.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, to 74.1 cents. On an average home assessed at $257,714, the homeowner will pay $191 more in school taxes annually.
Board President James Keelan said that while the activities are saved, $1.1 million is still needed to bring the district up to "thorough and efficient" levels.
"We still have more work to do, and we will continue to fight until our children receive their right to a thorough and efficient education," Keelan said. "This is one small victory. The fight still continues."
He also said he is happy for the children of the borough and thankful to the voters.
Keelan said he is not sure if the 12 positions will be saved and that Business Administrator Veronica Wolf would be able to comment on that. Wolf could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night.
At the polling place inside the Freehold firehouse at 49 W. Main St., some Freehold voters shared their views on the budget and education situation. The district, while it received a boost in state aid this year, has received flat aid from the state for five years and has seen a decrease in federal aid this year.
Edward Kress, 66, blamed the overcrowding on the illegal immigrants in the borough, but voted in favor of the ballot questions.
"There's no alternative. We have to support our children," Kress said.
Tom Scanlon, 18, held a similar view, but voted against the questions.
"If everyone paid taxes the way they're supposed to, there wouldn't be any money problems at all," Scanlon said.
Raymond Flint, 71, voted to approve the questions.
"I know the children need what I'm voting for," Flint said.
Resident Pat Eaton said she voted "no" on the questions, citing what she sees as an untapped resource for revenue.
"If the county paid taxes toward the borough, then the schools would have enough funding," Eaton said.
Freehold, which is the Monmouth county seat, has property that is exempt from local taxes.
I keep seeing this word on this site, and we all know why....APATHY.